Parole boss defends murderer's jail release
- From: The Australian
- July 01, 2011
A MAN who buried his victim's body in an ants' nest, and sparked one of the Northern Territory's biggest manhunts when he escaped from custody, is to be released from prison.
Daniel Lothar Heiss, now aged 46, was found guilty of murdering Peter Dean Robinson at a remote cattle station and sentenced to life in December 1990.
The NT parole board agreed unanimously on Wednesday to release Heiss. It was his eighth parole application hearing.
Parole board chairman Stephen Southwood, in a statement yesterday, said the board had given paramount consideration to the protection of the community and the likely effect of the prisoner's release on the family of the dead victim.
Justice Southwood said Mr Robinson's father did not believe Heiss was remorseful. "The board understands it will be difficult for the deceased's relatives to accept Mr Heiss is to be released on parole," he said.
Having spent almost 22 years behind bars, and knowing his co-offender was released on parole more than a year ago, Heiss pleaded in Darwin's daily newspaper last month for a "fair go".
On May 14, 1989, Heiss and Peter Michael Kamm left Borroloola, southeast of Darwin, to go hunting with Robinson on a property near the Stuart Highway. Court documents show Heiss fired his rifle at Robinson, but missed, before Kamm fired two shots at the 22-year-old.
The document said the men dug a hole, placed Robinson's body in a sleeping bag and wrapped a rag around his head, before pouring petrol over the body and setting fire to it.
"After the flames died down, both respondents covered the body with leaves and other debris and then placed an ants nest on top of the grave," it said.
On December 9, 1995, Heiss and a fellow inmate, also serving a life sentence for murder, escaped from Berrimah jail. For 12 days they eluded one of the biggest manhunts in NT history, involving 230 police. Today, Heiss is regarded as one of the NT's best artists, having held several exhibitions in Darwin.
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Gamesmen killer Ross Aaron Robinson released on parole
From: AAP
July 28, 2011
THE man convicted of murdering Angelo Cusumano, owner of The Gamesmen computer game shops, has been granted parole after serving 15-and-a-half years in jail.
Ross Aaron Robinson was convicted of killing Mr Cusumano in a botched robbery in 1995.
Now 35, he was granted parole today by the NSW Parole Authority and will be released next month.
His parole conditions prohibit him from living in Wollongong or visiting the city.
He's also banned from visiting central Sydney and the Sydney suburbs of Sutherland, Bankstown, Hurstville and Kogarah.
Robinson will be electronically monitored.
"The decision to grant parole was also based on recommendations from the Probation and Parole Service, who advised ... that the offender had successfully completed relevant programs," State Parole Authority director Robert Cosman said in a statement.
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Convicted killer released again
Nigel Hunt
From: Sunday Mail (SA)
July 16, 2011 10:00PM
A MAN convicted of a murder at a Brompton halfway house in 1994 has been released on parole - again.
Richard John Atkins, now 53, was released from Mt Gambier Prison after his parole was approved on Thursday.
He is the third convicted killer whose parole has been approved this year - murderers William Garve and Dean Manly were released on parole in May.
Atkins was convicted in May, 1996, of murdering Phillip John Aldam at a Brompton halfway house in April, 1994. During his Supreme Court trial the court was told Atkins, a heavy drinker, had consumed 24 cans of beer and some spirits before arguing with Aldam and stabbing him once in the chest.
In sentencing Atkins, Justice Brian Cox ordered that Atkins serve a nine-year non-parole period of his mandatory life sentence for murder.
In October, 2002, Atkins applied to the Parole Board for release and in October, 2003, he was released on parole for 10 years.
On September 17, 2005, he was stopped at a random breath testing station at Naracoorte and blew .106.
Atkins was charged with exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol and a breach of his provisional licence.
His strict parole conditions include abstaining from alcohol consumption.
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Fear as killer to walk free
Katherine Danks
From: The Daily Telegraph
July 29, 2011
FIFTEEN years after the murder of her husband, Mary Cusumano "spoke with her husband's voice" when she warned his soon-to-be-released killer yesterday.
She warned Ross Aaron Robinson, 35, to stay away from her children, their home, where they work and places where they socialise when he is released from prison next month.
Robinson appeared via audio-visual link from Bathurst's Oberon jail and his unmoving face was projected on more than 10 screens as she read a statement to the Parole Authority hearing in Parramatta.
"I have lived in my area for the last 20 years and I want to travel around this area without any fear," Ms Cusumano said.
"My children were very young when their father was murdered and it would not be a good idea for them to run into the offender."
Robinson served 15 years and six months for the murder of computer software salesman Angelo Cusumano, a rags to riches businessman who was well known for his TV advertisements.
Robinson, who was 19 at the time, his 21-year-old brother Seldon and their friend Andrew Ly, extensively planned the robbery of The Gamesman computer store in Penshurst on December 21, 1995. Mr Cusumano was shot twice while Aaron Robinson was demanding a computer from him.
The three students fled the scene with a five-figure sum of money, having also robbed customers of their wallets.
The Parole Authority yesterday set strict conditions for Robinson's release, including that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet until his maximum term ends in February 2016.
Robinson is banned from living in or visiting Wollongong, the Sutherland Shire, Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah and Sydney's CBD without approval.
He must not associate with Seldon Robinson and Ly without approval from his probation and parole officer.
Ms Cusumano, supported by one of the couple's four children Angelo Jr, said her family could feel safe with the conditions.
She also asked for a special condition that Robinson not work in the retail or wholesale computer gaming industry, which they said would be an "insult".
"I'm my husband's voice, I'm the one that can speak on his behalf and that's important to me, it's important to my family," Ms Cusumano said after the hearing.Seldon Robinson and Ly were each found not guilty of murder but pleaded guilty to armed assault with attempt to rob.
Both men were sentenced to minimum terms of four years.
In 2000, Ms Cusumano asked for Seldon Robinson to be moved to another TAFE after he was found to be studying near her home. The Serious Offenders Review Council supported Robinson's release from custody and noted his good behaviour while in jail, earning him low security status.
He will be released from prison after August 11.
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Gamesman killer Ross Aaron Robinson freed from jail
From: The Daily Telegraph
August 13, 2011
THE killer of computer businessman Angelo Cusumano will walk from Oberon jail today.
Ross Aaron Robinson, 35, has served 15 years and six months for the botched robbery at The Gamesman store in Penshurst on December 21, 1995.
The Parole Authority has set strict conditions on his release, including that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet until his maximum term ends in February 2016.
Mr Cusumano's widow Mary sought a special condition that Robinson not be allowed in areas where she or her children live, work or socialise.
This means he is banned from living in or visiting Wollongong, the Sutherland Shire, Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah and Sydney's CBD. Mr Cusumano was shot twice while Robinson was demanding a computer from him.